Returning to the 1960s: Starting with Digging for Fo-ti

“Wife, don’t be afraid!”

Du Jianguo quickly steadied her and pointed to the basket.

“This snake is the one I caught last night. I weighed it down with a big stone, so it can’t escape.”

As he spoke, he casually placed his hand on Liu Xiuyun’s waist, enjoying the soft and smooth sensation under his palm.

“You caught it?” Liu Xiuyun asked, startled and not noticing his little move. “Why would you catch something like that?”

“To sell for money!” Du Jianguo smiled. “I heard there are people in the county town who buy snakes. I’m taking it there today to see how much I can get for it. By the way, I had other catches last night too. Look over there by the corner!”

He pointed to the Fo-ti placed on a pile of potatoes.

Liu Xiuyun followed his gaze to the pile of potatoes in the corner and nodded. “You really dug up quite a few potatoes.”

“I told you not to aim too high. You went hunting and only brought back a venomous snake. You should just join everyone else in the fields to pick up potatoes. Getting through this winter is the real priority.”

“These potatoes will help us last a few more days. Once I finish the village’s production tasks this afternoon, I’ll go to the fields and dig too. Every bit counts.”

She came from a wealthy family but had never dealt with medicinal herbs. She hadn’t seen it clearly before, and now she didn’t examine it closely, mistaking the Fo-ti for a large, ugly, dark-colored potato.

Hearing this, Du Jianguo paused for a moment, then laughed helplessly. It seemed the true value of the Fo-ti would only be felt by his wife once he sold it for money.

“Do you want to sleep a bit longer, or go dig potatoes now?” Liu Xiuyun asked again, already gripping her hoe.

Du Jianguo thought for a moment and replied, “I’ll sleep a bit longer and go to the fields later.”

He didn’t dare mention going into the county. Liu Xiuyun’s parents lived in the county town. Whenever he went there before, it was usually to borrow money from the old couple. If he couldn’t borrow it, he would try to steal from them. He had completely ruined the family’s foundation.

He knew perfectly well that if he told her he was going to the city now, Liu Xiuyun would definitely get angry with him.

He could only use the excuse of sleeping a bit longer to bluff his way through.

“Alright, I’m heading to the fields then.” Liu Xiuyun didn’t think much of it and walked out the door.

As soon as she left, Du Jianguo jumped up from the bench, quickly packed his bedding, and hurried toward the village committee office.

As soon as he entered the courtyard, he saw an old man squatting by the wall, preparing a donkey cart. The cart was piled high with large potatoes, looking like it was heading to the county town.

Du Jianguo stepped forward and asked with a smile, “Uncle Sun, are you taking these potatoes to the grain depot?”

Sun Liu’an looked up, recognized Du Jianguo as the village’s notorious loafer, and immediately frowned. His alarm bells rang, fearing Du Jianguo was trying to get his hands on the potatoes.

He waved his whip and scolded him impatiently, “Go away! Stay away from my donkey cart! Why are you wandering around the village committee office instead of picking up potatoes in the fields?”

He even raised his whip as if to chase him off.

Du Jianguo didn’t panic. He smiled, took out a small half-bag of tobacco leaf from his pocket, and handed it to Sun Liu’an, softening his tone.

“Uncle Sun, I’m heading to the county town in a while. If it’s convenient, could you give me a ride?”

Sun Liu’an suspiciously took the tobacco leaf, opened the bag, took a pinch of the crumbs, and put it in his mouth to taste.

His expression softened a bit, and he nodded, agreeing to give him a ride.

But he couldn’t help asking, “What are you going to the city for? These days, everyone in the village is rushing to harvest grain and pick up potatoes in the fields, yet you run to the city?”

Just as Sun Liu’an finished speaking, he suddenly remembered Du Jianguo’s past “glorious” deeds. His brow furrowed again, and his tone carried a hint of mockery. “You wouldn’t be going to the county town to borrow money from your in-laws again, would you?”

Du Jianguo was about to deny it, but he suddenly remembered that it was now 1960.

If he rashly said he was going to the city to sell wild goods, wouldn’t that be clearly engaging in capitalist speculation?

Although Sun Liu’an had a good reputation in the village and didn’t seem like a bad-mouther, Du Jianguo had hardly interacted with the old man. Who knew if the old man would turn around and report him?

Du Jianguo changed his words before they left his mouth. He deliberately scratched his head and sighed helplessly.

“Uncle Liu’an, you actually hit the nail on the head.”

He slumped his shoulders, pretending to be helpless.

“I really don’t have the ability to earn money. I can’t starve, can I? I have to swallow my pride and ask my wife’s family for some subsidy. They can’t just leave their own daughter to starve, can they?”

“You really have done the worst kind of things!” Sun Liu’an snorted indignantly.

He didn’t want to meddle in their family affairs anymore. He just waved his hand.

“I’m leaving in half an hour. Decide if you want to hitch a ride. I’ll deliver the potatoes and head back. I’m estimated to be back in the village by evening.”

“Yes, yes!” Du Jianguo quickly agreed and added, “I’ll go home to get some local specialties to take to my in-laws. Please wait a moment for me!”

As soon as he finished speaking, he sprinted back home.

Once home, he wrapped the cloth bag containing the venomous snake a couple more times to ensure it was tightly sealed. Then, he carefully picked up the Fo-ti and tucked it into his chest before rushing back to the village committee. Just as he arrived at the courtyard gate, he heard Sun Liu’an cracking his whip to urge the donkey. He managed to get on the cart just before departure.

The donkey cart bumped along the mountain dirt road.

However, the distance of dozens of li was difficult to cover. It swayed and swayed for several hours before finally entering the city gate.

Although it was a county town, the current situation meant life in the city was not much better than in the countryside. Many shops on the street had closed their doors, dust accumulating on the wooden shutters. The whole street exuded a sense of desolation.

In these times, everyone struggled to survive.

Du Jianguo bowed to Sun Liu’an, “Uncle Liu’an, you go ahead and attend to your business. I’ll head to my in-laws’ house right away.”

Sun Liu’an didn’t bother to deal with this good-for-nothing anymore. He picked up his whip and drove the donkey cart toward the grain depot.

Once Sun Liu’an’s figure completely disappeared from sight, Du Jianguo turned into a narrow alley, winding his way to an old pharmacy.

He lifted the curtain and walked in. “Shopkeeper, do you buy medicinal herbs?”

An old man wearing reading glasses was sitting behind the counter. Originally thinking it was a customer coming to buy medicine, he frowned upon hearing that someone wanted to sell herbs. “What are you selling? If it’s ordinary herbal medicine, don’t bother. I have too much stock already.”

“Do you buy Fo-ti?” Du Jianguo stepped closer.

“Fo-ti?” The old man’s eyes lit up. He immediately stepped out from behind the counter, rubbed his hands, and asked, “Where is it? Let me see quickly!”

Du Jianguo untied the sack he carried, handing over the Fo-ti along with its roots.

The old man took it, weighed it in his hands, and was so surprised he kept clicking his tongue.

“Such a large Fo-ti! It would take decades to grow this big!” The more he looked, the happier he became. He looked up and asked, “How do you want to sell it?”

“Give me a price and let me hear it.” Du Jianguo stood with his arms crossed.